Pressure releasing device



H. N. RIDER PRESSURE RELEASING DEVICE Filed April 26, 1944 HA2 1: YM R105 3nventor Gttorneg departing frem the spir'it ofthe invention.

Patented Jan. 3, 1950 PRES SURE- ,EELEA1SING"DEVIGE Harry N. Rider, flonngstownefihio,sjassignorgshy vmesne assignments, to "'fiAutomatic. Sprinkler Gorporation of America, oung-stown,--0hio, a :wmoration-of Delaware Application April26, IM lJS'eriaI -N 0. 53%84'0 4 Claims. (Cl.l169-.17:)

1 This invention relates to heat "actuated devices "and more particularly "to a sprinkler "valve actuator.

The principal object of :the invention is the provisiono'f means to'release air pressure from a;s prinkler valve actuator the said -means being adapted to :be installed in an enclosure wherein pressures in excess of atmospheric are normal.

A further object :of the invention is the provisionv of a pressure relieving device which is capable of action in an enclosure in-which pressures in excess of "atmospheric are normal and which device is adapted to be placed in communication with a'sprinkler-valve actuating device.

Astill further object ofthe invention is the provision of a pressurei-releasing device adapted vfor positioning within a tank-like enclosure by way of a single relatively small opening in the same.

A still further .object of "the invention is the provision of a pressure 'relieving device which is efficient and dependable in operationand capable of economic manufacture.

The pressure releasing device shown and described herein has been designedto enable the positive detection ofifire'or conditions likely to result in fire when installed in tank-like enclosures which may 'orimay not-confine-pressures in excess of .or below-atmospheric whenused inconnection with a sprinkler valve actuated device such asknown inthe art. For example, the pressure releasing device herein disclosed-is particu- 'larly adapted for installation :in solvent recovery tanks used in the manufacture of explosives, the

device of the invention being located withinthe tank-like enclosure and serving "to actuate a deluge valve of a deluge sprinkler system, the fluid ,delivery'porti-ons of which'are also located within 'the' solvent recovery 'tank. "The-pressure releasing device is adapted to release operating pressure normally "maintained in the sprinkler valve -,actuating device with which it communieates and also in a portion of the device its'elf so that upon relieving :such :pressure the sprinkler valve controlled by the sprinkler valve actuator: r

may-be operated.

'With'the foregoing and *otherobjects in-view which-will appear as the description proceeds. the invention resides in'the combinationand arrangement of parts --and in the -details of con struction hereinafter "described and olaimecL i t being understood that changesinthe precise emhodiment of the invention herein disclosed-pantie made within the -scope of w'hatis olaimed without Elheinvention is illustrated in the accompany ingzdrawirrs, :wnerein:

ziiifigune 15 3a; prossssectional aside 1 elevation 1.01 the pressure e'flea-sing device ':,-showi-ng"the- "same inrnormalxzondition.

Figure 2 is an illustratiomof the pressuresreieasingdeviceumodified -,in:its connect-ions or in- Stallationjinn materialeconveying (11101 ,iFjEl-Hifi 3 :is ;a cross :sectional side elevation :01 a tankeli-kecenclosure:showing the tlocaztion. ofithe pressure "releasing device .iinsta'lled *therein :tosettler-with the .fluid' delivering portions'.:of.,;a (deluge =;sprir1kler system :subject -tor'actuation thereby.

- application :for patent diseloses z-aniimmovement to :one i'fif'l'bhe :sactuated adevices :TfiSGlOSBdTiIl myscopendingwapplication for :patent, Serial No; AS23631 on Sprinkler wvalve actuating fieviceizfiled filctober 19., .'l9.4'2', rwhich.:has matured into;Patent2;349;-883.

- :ZByrreferringto :the drawings rand Figure .1 .in particularwit will ibe seen athat :the :pressnrewreleasing .dBYlEBTCOIlSiSllS of a ztubnlarrbo'dyimember Jflfihaving aaxternally threaded :areas 21:! and respectively-rat its :opposite ends :and provided with a hexagon shaped exteriorrsection 2:133 :and .anii-nteriorly nositionedishoulder irllaimmediately ibfiflfifiith? which there is :customarily located a fliskazlfi. !Efhe disk :is positioned-immediately heheath-the shoulder: l 4 ofnthe body member 210 by meansloiazring of. fusible solder. .XIhe disk "lifixis held against rthesshoulder l #fiytheifusible solder It in a manner forming an airtight zpartition anmssthe :body member & Ill :Of the: device.

:"JfIhreadably {engaging :the threaded area I? ioi itheibodyrmember =lfl'aatitheibottom thereof there siszaacaprportion :1?!- which in turn iisprovided-iw-ith opening :4 B in which a :pinslil positioned so that theimaj-orityl of-ethe body .of the pin 3 [9. lies within therareaxof rtheecap '1'! :and imrne'cliately beneathzthebottomrnf 13631901157 member iliL The "pin"! 9 prevents therdiski fromaclos'ing the orifice in itheanapzll 1. ."FIhe nap of thezpressure release device- ,is provided-with gagthreaded ripening '21] #W'l'Ii-chuis adapted :toreceive ca. flitting '2! which, in .Ei ure 1;, establishes -z;communication with a iTheJpressur-e meleasing device body all -*is nnoanted-forioperationiin a fir fittingi 23 by means i a .drilledmnd tapped 'ffitting =24, .which fitting 22:4 rprovides a communication cl'iannel between ztheinteriorofsthe 'T'I2 3iand theiabody member 1 I11 of: Tie-pressure ereleasing device :so that .air pressure maintained in -the interior pf theT 23 day "way-mi a tube #25 311 '--ccmmi1nication therewith In actual practice, as may be seen by referringto Figure 3, the tube 25 communicates with a sprinkler valve actuating mechanism housing 40 in which predetermined air pressure is maintained by a suitable source. The sprinkler valve actuating mechanism, known in the art, is so formed that it will open the sprinkler valve 4| tends through the duct wall 3| where it is positioned in an air tight manner and communicates with the atmosphere at a point 39.

It will thus be seen that the pressure releasing device disclosed herein is capable of actuating a sprinkler valve actuating mechanism by relieving the pressure therein to the atmosphere upon being subjected to heat and that by its construction it is particularly adapted for positioning within tank-like enclosures in which pressures in excess of or below atmospheric are common.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

which it controls upon the loss of air pressure from the housing 40, which communicates with the tube 25 and the interior of the T 23. The loss of air pressure from the housing results from the fusing of the fusible solder I6 and the forceable displacement of the disk l by the spring 26 thus opening a communication channel to the atmosphere through the pressure releasing device body III by bringing the tube into communication with the tube 22 heretofore referred to and with the tube 29 which is connected to the said tube 22 and which leads to the exterior of the enclosure.

By referring to Figure 1 of the drawings, it will be seen that the tube 22 is brazed in a fitting 21 which in turn is brazed in a fitting 28 which is brazed in the T 23. A tube 29 which leads to the exterior of the enclosure is brazed in the opposite end of the fitting 28. Thus, a leak proof communication channel is effected between the tube 22 and the tube 29. The tube 29 is located within the tube 25 and extends to the atmosphere outside of the tank or other enclosure 42 in which the device may be located so that air pressure relieved by the device may be vented through the tube 29 to the atmosphere. As this action has been carefullyset forth in my heretofore referred to co-pending patent application on sprinkler valve actuating device in which disclosure a different mechanism is employed in place of the pressure releasing device herein disclosed, a further description of the mode of operation is not included herein. a

By referring now to Figure 2 of the drawings, it will be seen that a pressure releasing device 30 modified somewhat from that illustrated in Figure 1 of the drawings and heretofore de-' scribed, has been positioned in a material con veying duct 3| wherein pressures in excess of or .below atmospheric are normal.

The pressure releasing device 30 takes the form "of a tubular body having a plurality of heat abscrbing fins 32 positioned thereabout which heat absorbing fins speed up the action of the device upon subjection to heat due to the ability of the finned body member 30 to absorb heat more rapidly.- Like the device illustrated in Figure l, the pressure releasing device 30 is mounted by means of a fitting 33 which, in Figure 2, is positioned in a reducer 34 which in turn is afiixed to a tube 35 which extends through the duct wall 3| in an air tight manner and communicates with the sprinkler valve actuating device mechanism housing in which actuating air pressure is maintained as heretofore described in connection with the tube 25 in Figure 1. In order that air in the tube 35 may be vented upon operation of the pressure releasing device 30, a cap 36 similar to the cap I! in Figure 1 is provided with a drilled and tapped opening in which a fitting 3'! is positionedso as to establish communication with the tube 38. ,The opposite end of the tube 38 ex- 1. A pressure releasing device for installation in a tank like enclosure whereby pressures other than those in the enclosure may be controlled by the temperature within the enclosure, said device including a T-shaped hollow body member and including a pair of tubular members in communication therewith, said tubular members extending out of said tank-like enclosure, means to separate the T-shaped body member into two chambers and heat responsive pressure releasing means controlling the separating means, one of the tubular members establishing communication with the bottom of the T-shaped body member on one side of the separating means and the other of the tubular members establishing communication with the T-shaped body member above the separating means, the tubular members and the pressure releasing device closed with respect to the interior of the said tank-like enclosure.

2. A pressure releasing device for installation in a tank like enclosure whereby pressures other than those in the enclosure may be controlled by the temperature within the enclosure, said device including a hollow body member having a tubular projection extending therefrom, means in the tubular projection separating a portion thereof from the remainder of the hollow body member, said separating means comprising a heat responsive pressure releasing element, a tubular member in cornmunication with the outward end of the said projection and the chamber on one side of the said separating means and extending through the said hollow body member and sepae rated therefrom, and a secondary tubular member establishing communication with the said hollow body member on theother side of the said separating means and enclosing the first mentioned tubular member, said tubular members extending to a location outside the said tank-like enclosure, said hollow body member and tubular members closed with respect to the said tanklike enclosure.

3. A pressure releasing device for installation in a tank like enclosure whereby pressures other than those in the enclosure may be controlled by the temperature within the enclosure, said device including a hollow body member having a removably affixed tubular body member extending therefrom, a fusible element in the said tubular body member separating the outermost portion thereof from the hollow body member, a tubular member in communication with the outward end of the said tubular body member and the cham ber on one side of the said fusible element and extending through the said hollow body member and separated therefrom, and a secondary tubular member establishing communication with the said hollow body member on the other side of the said separating means and enclosing the first tank-like enclosure, said hollow body member and tubular members closed with respect to the said tank-like enclosure.

4. A pressure releasing device for installation in a tank like enclosure whereby pressures other than those in the enclosure may be controlled by the temperature within the enclosure, said device including a hollow body member having a removably affixed tubular body member extending therefrom and in communication therewith, a fusible element in the said tubular body member separating the outermost portion thereof from the remainder thereof, a tubular member in communication with the outermost end of the said tubular body member, and a secondary tubular member establishing communication with the said hollow body member on the other side of the said separating means, said tubular members extending to a location outside the said tank-like enclosure, said hollow body member and tubular members closed with respect to the said tanklike enclosure.

HARRY N. RIDER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number 

